2 weeks pregnant

At 2 weeks pregnant you may or may not actually be aware that you are pregnant…

If you have been trying to conceive you might have some idea, but if this is an ‘unexpected pregnancy” you might be completely unaware at this point. Either way, you have a little life growing and developing inside you. This article will discuss what you can expect at 2 weeks pregnant for both you and your baby.

Although some say you are not even “technically” pregnant at this point. Your healthcare provider will calculate your baby’s due date from the first day of your previous menstrual cycle. It is difficult to tell if conception has actually taken place at this point as it will mostly likely not show up on a pregnancy test at this early stage. Some women are certain they “know” they are pregnant from the moment of conception, while others still don’t know until they actually experience pregnancy symptoms and have it confirmed by their physician. For the sake of this article, we are assuming that conception has in fact taken place and your baby is already starting to develop.

Your baby at 2 weeks pregnant

Although it’s too soon to tell by ultrasound, the sex of your baby has already been determined. You should be able to find out the gender of your baby by your fourteenth week. So you have a few weeks yet left to decide whether or not you want to know the gender beforehand or wait until delivery.

At this point, your baby is still in the embryo stage, made up of 150 cells which will soon divide into three separate layers. The first, or internal layer, is the endoderm, or endoblast, which will later form the respiratory and digestive systems and includes organs such as the thyroid, pancreas, thymus and liver. The middle layer, or mesoderm, will form the baby’s skeletal and circulatory systems, inner skin layer, genitalia, outer covering and excretory system. The outer layer, or ectoderm/ecto blast will form the brain and nervous system as well as the epidermis, which is your baby’s hair, nails and skin.

Your baby is only about 0.1 to 0.2 mm at this point, and is not visible to the eye via ultrasound.

Whether or not it is official that you are in fact expecting, you should definitely behave as though you are. Below we will discuss early pregnancy symptoms and precautions you should take during this exciting time.

Your body at 2 weeks pregnant

Some women, at 2 weeks pregnant, may start to experience pregnancy symptoms at this early stage while others do not have any symptoms until week three or four. You may start to experience some tingling and tenderness in your breasts and you may experience some vaginal spotting. Some of the other early signs of pregnancy include missed period, sleep disturbances, increased need to urinate and elevated basal body temperature.

You may start to experience a slight feeling of nausea and other digestive issues such as gas and constipation. You might feel more fatigued and some women experience morning sickness, although most do not at this early stage.

If you are trying to conceive it is important that you take all measures to prepare your body for pregnancy. Start taking folic acid and prenatal vitamins. Discuss what dosage and other such details with your prenatal care physician. Also take Vitamin D to help prevent pregnancy complications such as various infections and preeclampsia.

Change your diet and habits

You might also want to eliminate certain things from your diet such as nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, artificial sweeteners and recreational drugs. All of these can interfere with conception and are extremely harmful to your baby and can cause serious pregnancy complications and have long term effects on your baby’s overall health. Also check with your doctor if you are taking any prescription medications to see if they could interfere with your pregnancy.

At 2 weeks pregnant you should start to add an additional 300 calories to your everyday diet. Make sure to include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as low-fat dairy and whole grains.

You should avoid fish that are high in mercury such as tilefish, king mackerel, shark and swordfish. It is safe to consume 12 ounces of low mercury seafood a week such as catfish, salmon, and cod. You should avoid raw and processed meats. These include lunch meat and avoid soft cheeses such as feta, brie, and blue cheese. You should avoid any foods that are unpasteurized as these contain bacteria that are harmful to your baby.

2 weeks pregnant – sex, exercise, yoga and pilates

You may continue to engage in sexual activity as well as low to moderate exercise as this time. 30 minutes a day of low to moderate aerobic activity is the norm for this time and activities such as yoga and light pilates might prove to be beneficial at this early stage. You might want to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise and make sure that you are getting enough sleep at night. Drink 8-10 eight ounce glasses of water a day and avoid caffeine.

Now you are 2 weeks pregnant you should definitely discuss any health concerns or family history with your prenatal care doctor. Start to discuss any issues that may arise during your pregnancy. It is important to take care of your health as the health of your baby depends on it.

Enjoy your moments

This is an exciting time, whether you are “officially” pregnant or still in the process of conception. Make sure that you enjoy every moment and keep a positive outlook. Your baby can pick up on your mood and emotions. If you have any early warning signs of pregnancy complications such as heavy bleeding, excessive nausea and vomiting, severe dehydration, high fever, excessive vaginal discharge and itching, painful urination, and severe leg pain, stomach cramping or headaches you should contact your doctor and seek medical attention immediately.